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De Gaulle's grandson blames West’s superiority complex over Russia for crisis in Europe

February 2, 2023, marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad

© Vasilina Borko/TASS

VOLGOGRAD, February 2. /TASS/. The prevailing mindset in the West about its perceived superiority over the Russian people is born out of ignorance and it generates instability and crisis in those countries which are guided by it, Pierre de Gaulle, grandson of former French President General Charles de Gaulle, told TASS on Thursday while attending commemorative events on Mamayev Kurgan.

"An opinion exists in the West of its superiority over the Russian people, which [Alexander] Solzhenitsyn destroyed in 1978 in his [Harvard] speech. I also shatter the illusion of this superiority. The West is completely ignorant about the Russian people, so the crisis in Europe right now is rooted in this. They are blind to the love of their homeland and to the resistance of the Russian people. Therefore, this misunderstanding spawns great instability. One day the truth will prevail," de Gaulle observed.

He emphasized that he admired the strength, determination and insightfulness of the Russian people.

"I am also here for peace, <...> peace is necessary for life. To do this, you must respect promises and give guarantees. For me it is also very important to talk about the French-Russian friendship. It’s a long and historic friendship. France and Russia are united by history and a common destiny," the politician concluded.

Pierre de Gaulle, grandson of Charles de Gaulle, the late French President and Chairman of the French National Liberation Committee during World War II, arrived in Volgograd to attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad and to pay tribute to the participants in the battle.

"I came here freely and on my own free will as part of my cultural and historical trip to Russia. This is my first trip to Russia. I came first and foremost to honor the soldiers, the civilians, all those who sacrificed to defeat Nazism. This is a very exciting moment for me. I admire the strength, determination and profoundness of the Russian people," Pierre de Gaulle told TASS.

80th anniversary

February 2, 2023, marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad. During the days of celebration in Volgograd there will be about 250 events, the main ones being a military parade, a concert conducted by Yury Bashmet, as well as fireworks on Mamaev Kurgan and the central waterfront. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit the city.

The Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942 - February 2, 1943) was one of the largest during the Great Patriotic War in terms of size, duration and number of participants. It radically changed the course of the war and heralded the victory of the Soviet army over the Nazi troops.

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